The Trials of Muhammad Ali

source: The Trials of Muhammad Ali

This is the sixth documentary I've seen on Muhammad Ali. That goes to show you how big of a figure he was and is. There was "Thrilla in Manilla," "When We Were Kings," "Facing Ali," "Muhammad Ali: The Greatest," and "The Rumble in the Jungle." This documentary focuses more on the tumult in his life (becoming Muslim and refusing conscription) than any other documentary. There are interviews from family members and associates as well as archival footage of Muhammad Ali himself. I like anything Muhammad Ali related. He was before my time, but through books and films I can make a connection to the man who is arguably the greatest boxer of all time. Free with Amazon Prime.

Offers great insight into the story of the man, Muhammad Ali aka Cassius Clay. An incredible and outspoken boxer who transcended boxing, and even all of sports. It begins with the journey of a man, the principles he fought for, the trials and tribulations he had to face throughout his life to stand for these principles he believed in, the courage rebellion, and his continuous evolution, reverence and relevance in public folklore, with a popularity that went soaring in the 60s and 70s, and later come to be known as the greatest of all time. Its a genuine tribute to the man, who will not be forgotten, and stands as an inspiration to millions of people, for generations to come.

Marvelous documentary revealing little known aspects of this iconic American's journey. As a teenager, Ali was backed by a coterie of rich, white Kentucky financiers with a keen eye for picking Kentucky Derby winners and one promising prize fighter. Like the rest of the world, they had no idea that Ali (then known as Cassius Clay, named after an abolitionist) would blossom into a veritable goldmine. Yet Ali remained "unbought" throughout his career, refusing to curb his personal convictions for anyone. Arguably, his unblinking allegiance to the Honorable Elijah Muhammad may have been misplaced, but, as the film shows, it was strains of this dogged allegiance to principle that led the Supreme Court to reverse Ali's draft dodger conviction. The film wastes too much time on self-important talking heads (including a family member and Nation of Islam representatives) who appear to overstate their influence on the now stoic Ali. The film also lingers a bit long with Malcolm X's concurrent struggles with the NOI and not long enough with the troubling period when Ali, broke and title-stripped, embarked upon awkward college lecture and way, way off-Broadway tours. It closes with a tearful tribute from his daughter and brother (who bears a striking resemblance to Ali), and a full-circle romp back to the Olympics, from whence his public persona emerged. This isn't a fight film, it's an exonerative victory lap by "The Greatest" that merits eight heavyweight forks from AfroPixFlix.

We've all seen the highlights of Muhammad Ali's boxing career, but what happened in his life is just as important. "The Trials of Muhammad Ali" has a title that one might interpret as a double meaning. There was the US government's prosecution of him for refusing to fight in the Vietnam War, and there were the events in his personal life. The point is that Ali stood up for what he believed, and made sure that the world heard his opinion. We could be cynical and say that the documentary gives a little too much time to the interviewees, but the archive footage makes up for that. It's clear that the government saw all black political movements as suspect, especially Islam. Among the interviewees, John Carlos - who made a political statement at the 1968 Olympics - makes probably the most important comment. Well, Ali got vindicated. He lit the torch at the 1996 Olympics and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005. There's also a clip of him interviewed right after the 9/11 attacks warning not to view all Muslims as Osama bin Laden. Definitely see this documentary.

The career of world champion boxer Muhammad Ali has been explored and celebrated in a number of documentaries and two biopics (one of which even starred Ali as himself), but this fascinating and revealing documentary looks at that bleak period of his career when he was stripped of his titles and vilified for refusing to be conscripted into the US army at the height of the Vietnam War. Following his triumphs at the 1964 Olympics and his recent wins to claim the world heavyweight championship Ali converted to Islam, under the influence of Elijah Muhammad, the charismatic but outspoken head of the American Nation of Islam movement. He changed his name from Cassius Clay and became something of an outspoken supporter of Islam himself, denouncing the racism of American culture. His controversial stance as a conscientious objector who refused to enlist and fight in Vietnam on religious grounds made him unpopular. Most people are aware of the basic details of Ali's actions, but few probably know of what happened to him during that five year period. Not only were there trials in the Supreme Court to try and overturn his jail sentence, Ali also faced the court of public opinion as many in America disagreed with his stance. And more lately he faces the more personal struggle as he battles the crippling effects of Parkinson's Disease. Director Bill Siegel (The Weather Underground, etc) draws upon extensive archival footage to put Ali's controversial stance in the larger historical context of the whole Civil Rights movement and the divisive racism of the era. He also uses lots of candid and revealing interviews with the likes of Ali's brother, one of his ex-wives, a veteran sports journalist, and the sole surviving member of his original management group to fill provide some colourful anecdotes and insights into Ali's complex yet charismatic character.

Source of the Review : http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/films/trials-of-muhammad-ali/ BY Bill Siegel | IN Identity Premiered April 14, 2014 About the Film The Trials of Muhammad Ali explores the extraordinary and complex life of the legendary athlete outside the boxing ring. From joining the controversial Nation of Islam and changing his name from Cassius Clay to Muhammad Ali, from his refusal to serve in the Vietnam War in the name of protesting racial inequality to his global humanitarian work, Ali remains an inspiring and controversial figure. Focusing on some of the most noteworthy and provocative aspects of the legendary athlete's life, the film explores his lifelong journey of spiritual transformation. From his Louisville roots through his years in exile to receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Ali's path was that of poet to pariah to global ambassador for peace. In 1964, when the 22-year-old Olympic gold medalist won his first heavyweight championship, he shouted, "I shook up the world!" But his earthshaking had only begun. Soon he announced he had become a Muslim with a new name: Muhammad Ali. In 1967, after being denied conscientious objector status, Ali refused military induction. Convicted of draft evasion, he was sentenced to five years in prison and his passport was revoked. Stripped of his title and banned from boxing, Ali faced an American public enraged by his opposition to the Vietnam War and unwilling to accept his conversion to Islam. Vilified in many corners at home, he became an international symbol of opposition to an unjust war. Filing round after round of legal appeals all the way to the Supreme Court, he supported his family via a nationwide speaking tour across a country divided over the war abroad and racism at home. Rare archival footage of Ali's fiery speeches on college campuses and heated exchanges during TV appearances show him fearlessly speaking his mind as he fights for freedom. Archival scenes highlight the forces that supported and opposed him, including his spiritual mentors, Malcolm X and Elijah Muhammad, and critics of his stance, such as Jackie Robinson and Joe Louis. Most of the interviewees have never been featured in any Ali film before, yet are central to his life story and the global impact he had. Interviews shot exclusively for the film include his brother, Rahman; his former wife, Khalilah Camacho-Ali; New York Times writer Robert Lipsyte; and Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan. What emerges is the hidden history and a complex portrait of Muhammad Ali. The Filmmaker Bill Siegel has more than 20 years of experience in documentary filmmaking and education. He co-directed the Academy Award-nominated documentary The Weather Underground; was a researcher on the films Muhammad Ali: The Whole Story and Hoop Dreams; and a writer on One Love, a documentary on the cultural history of basketball by Leon Gast (When We Were Kings). Siegel is Vice President of School Programs for the Great Books Foundation, a non-profit educational organization dedicated to literacy and lifelong learning.

"The legal battles of the great American boxer against being conscripted into the US military during the Vietnam War." Maybe my reading comprehension has failed, but I am given the impression from reading that description the major basis for this movie would be about Ali and his fight against his draft status and the Vietnam war. As a atheist/agnostic I find this incredibly deceiving. Instead of the focus of the film being about historic legal battle(s) that went all the way to the US Supreme Court, it is a focus of religious beliefs and specifically the Nation of Islam. For me legal battle was more impactful to my life and thousands if not millions of others than anthing else Ali did including his boxing career. Ali's religious beliefs are not because I find religious debate and Islam bashing by the right wing horrible and just another form of racism similar to anti-immigration. Note the Director of this film Bill Siegel is very anti-Islamic has even wrote a book talking about radical Islam and how it is destroying/destroyed America! "The Control Factor: Our Struggle to See the True Threat" I suggest you not watch this film and instead watch many other better documentaries about Ali. Even Will Smiths portrayal in Ali is better. To me this whole film was made because Ali said many things that were hurtful to non-blacks in a very hard and historic time in our nations history. Now since Ali said those things and is a historic figure in Islam this is a way to bash Islam without bashing Islam. Now it's hard for me to fault Ali for saying the things he said because at the time blacks were not treated as equals and thus still had a lot to fight for and Ali was the epitome of this. Shame on you Bill Siegel!

This is NOT about Muhammad Ali. This is about the Islam Muslim religion. I have nothing but expletives for the people who created, produced, marketed, and released this insult. Over 90% of this film is heavily weighted with Muslim comments, history, and (in my opinion) propaganda. This film even goes so far as to proclaim that marrying a virgin is a "Jackpot". (Women are only a commodity) As a Muhammad Ali fan my entire life, I was not just disappointed with this film, I was also insulted, and angry. This film made me doubt why I ever admired Muhammad Ali in the first place. "The Trials Of Muhammad Ali" is not some vast account of trials and tribulations. It is overwhelmingly about the Muslim religion, and uses Ali as a poster boy. It's entirely about Muslim faith. I felt I had been deceived by the title and promised an inside view into the life of someone whom I thought was a great boxer and American hero. My opinion now stands as muddied. My memories of the champ sullied by this absolute pile of dung. Though I continued to try to watch the entire documentary, it was painful to sit through it. I kept hoping the angle of the story would change. It did not. Further into the film, a photo snapshot boldly stood out and I rewound it to see the still image. In my opinion, as someone who has been repairing digital photographs for over ten years, that photo was blatantly doctored. I tried to convince myself that it was just a happenstance, but further on I saw another doctored photo. I had to wonder, 'To what lengths will they go?' Not only do the makers of this horrible excuse for a film try to use Muhammad Ali to bring attention to the Muslim religion, they literally dare all African American people to join them in their fight, against all other RACES.